Able 5B (Pioneer P-31) lunar-orbiter spacecraft family
The Able 5B (Pioneer P-31) family was the third and final U.S. lunar-orbiter probe attempt of 1959-1960. Its Atlas Able booster malfunctioned and exploded seconds after launch on 15 December 1960, sending the payload into the Atlantic Ocean.
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Identity
- Aliases
- Able 5BPioneer P-31P-31 / Able 5B
- Family Name
- Able 5B (Pioneer P-31)
- Full Name
- Able 5B (Pioneer P-31) lunar-orbiter spacecraft family
- Roles
- orbiterinterplanetary_probetechnology_demonstrator
- Status
- retired
- Type
- spacecraft
Details
- Description
- The Able 5B (Pioneer P-31) family was the third and final U.S. lunar-orbiter probe attempt of 1959-1960. Its Atlas Able booster malfunctioned and exploded seconds after launch on 15 December 1960, sending the payload into the Atlantic Ocean.
- First Flight Year
- 1,960
- Last Flight Year
- 1,960
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Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 6, 2026 at 20:05:28 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 6, 2026 at 20:05:28 UTC